Global Projects

Overview

"They have a broad international experience that allows them to ask the right questions and compile relevant information quickly." Chambers Global 2019

Mayer Brown advises on the largest and most innovative infrastructure projects around the globe. One of Law360’s “Project Finance Groups of the Year” for 2017 and 2018, we have participated in award-winning transactions on five continents.

With a resume that includes projects ranging from the expansion of the Panama Canal to hydropower generation in Myanmar, our experience sets us apart.

The depth of our practice means we are able to efficiently handle issues that arise in large-scale projects— from inception and development to long-term investment. Our Global Projects practice engages each of Mayer Brown’s disciplines, including our Banking & Finance team (stretching from Singapore to London to New York), our Mergers & Acquisitions team (handling, among other mandates, multibillion-dollar energy acquisitions in developing countries) and our Litigation & Dispute Resolution team (representing the Panama Canal Authority in multiple disputes with the European-led expansion construction consortium). With our strong “one-firm” culture, we deliver unmatched capabilities and insight across jurisdictions and industry sectors.

Expérience

Energy

With extensive experience bringing award-winning projects to completion, we can structure, negotiate, and document the full array of project and financing agreements for energy projects, including large scale renewable energy, power, oil and gas.

8point3 Energy Partners. Represented Allianz Global Investors in a bond financing transaction for a portfolio of solar projects held by 8point3 Energy Partners and acquired by Capital Dynamics.

Vietnamese Hydropower Plant. Represented Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. as mandated lead arranger in a US $125 million loan facility to VNECO Hoi Xuan Investment and Electricity Construction JSC, a Vietnamese project company, to construct a 102 MW hydropower project on the Ma River in Vietnam.

Porto de Sergipe I LNG-to-Power Complex. Represented GE Capital in its agreement with Centrais Elétricas de Sergipe to provide credit support on the Porto de Sergipe I Thermoelectric Complex Project. Named Latin American Power Deal of the Year 2018 by IJ Global, Best Bond and Best Infrastructure Financing: Brazil, 2018 LatinFinance and Latin America: Project Finance Deal of the Year 2019 by Bonds & Loans Latin America.

Australia Export/Guangdong LNG. Represented the vessel sponsors providing the transportation for the project initially using two 138,000cbm LNG tankers. This was China’s first LNG import project and Australia’s largest-ever export contract.

Our extensive track record of advising public and private clients on a variety of ground-breaking transactions involving roads, airports, ports, mass transit and other transportation assets gives us a unique level of market credibility.

Bermuda Airport. Represented the noteholders as investors on the private placement of US$285 million senior secured notes due 2042 issued by Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited, the operator of the L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda. Named North America Airport Deal of the Year 2017 by IJ Global.

Aruba Green Corridor. Acted as sponsor’s counsel to Grupo Odinsa S.A., a Colombian infrastructure and construction company, on the Aruba Green Corridor availability payment road project, the first ever public-private-partnership financing completed in Aruba and one of the first in the Caribbean. Named Best Infrastructure Financing: Caribbean 2016 by LatinFinance and is a finalist for Best Road/Bridge/Tunnel Project to be awarded by P3 Bulletin.

Ohio River Bridges—East End Crossing. Represented, as sponsors’ counsel to WVB East End Partners, LLC, on a design-build-finance-operate-maintain PPP for the East End Crossing, a planned toll bridge and roadway crossing the Ohio River Kentucky and southern Indiana. 2013 “National Deal of the Year” and North America Project Bond Deal of the Year 2013.

Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport. Represented the Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority, on a 40-year lease agreement with Aerostar Airport Holdings LLC to privatize Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan. The transaction marked the first privatization of a major airport in the US. Named the North America Transport Deal of the Year 2013 by Project Finance magazine.

Rutas de Lima. We represented Goldman, Sachs & Co., BBVA, Credicorp Capital and Banco de Crédito del Perú as underwriters and loan arrangers on the mixed senior secured bond and senior secured loan for the $1 billion Rutas de Lima project, a public-private partnership (PPP) toll road project in Lima, Peru. Project Finance Deal of the Year 2014 in the category of Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

Grand Parkway Project. Served as project finance counsel with respect to the Grand Parkway toll project in Houston, Texas.

Sociedad Concesionaria Autovía de la Plata. Represented Sociedad Concesionaria Autovía de la Plata as English law counsel in the issuance of €184.5 million of its 3.169% project bonds due 2041. The issuer is sponsored by Meridiam, a global infrastructure finance firm, and leading Spanish construction companies Acciona Infraestructuras and Cintra Infraestructuras. The proceeds of the offering were used to refinance the issuer’s outstanding debt incurred in the construction of the A66 Autovía de la Plata highway in Spain.

Mining

No matter how complex the deal or remote the operation, our mining team is likely to have worked on a similar assignment before and can identify likely issues and resolve them quickly. Our Mining practice is regularly ranked in the top tier of legal providers for mining and minerals by the leading independent legal directory guides. According to Chambers Global, "Mining is a niche area where Mayer Brown is especially singled out for praise."

Öksüt Gold Mine. Represented UniCredit Bank AG, as facility agent, security holder, technical agent, documentation agent, mandated lead arranger and a lender, and a European multilateral development financial institution, as a mandated lead arranger and a lender, in US$150 million term facility for the construction and operation of the Öksüt gold mine and related infrastructure in the Kayseri region of Turkey.

Gokirmak Copper Mine. Represented the lenders in the project financing for the development of the Gokirmak copper mine located in the Hanonu district of Kastamonu in Turkey.

Minas de Aguas Teñidas. Represented the mandated lead arrangers, to refinance a US$ 400 million senior secured facility for Minas de Aguas Teñidas (MATSA), a mining company based in Spain.

Dundee Precious Metals. Represented the borrower on the financing of the development of the Chelopech copper and gold mine in Bulgaria.

Yaramoko Gold Project. Advised the lenders, including Société Générale and BNP Paribas on the financing and development of Roxgold Inc.'s Yaramoko gold project in Burkina Faso.

Nordic Mines. Advised Nordic Mines on the restructuring of the project finance facilities provided by its lenders. The restructuring, which included the write-down of lender debt from EUR 45.1 million to EUR 12.5 million and this year involved the subsequent purchase by the company of the remaining outstanding claims of the lenders, is of strategic importance as it will enable Nordic Mines to move forward with a new strategic main owner.

Wolf Minerals. Advised Wolf Minerals Limited on the financing for the construction and development of a tin and tungsten mine in Hemerdon, Devon. Upon financial close, this will be the first mine in the UK to be financed for several years and, once the project is complete, a mine that has been closed for more than 60 years, will be reopened. European Mining & Metals Deal of the Year 2013.

Endeavour Mining. Advised UniCredit Bank AG, Societie Generale, BNP Paribas, ING Bank N.V and Deutsche Bank AG on the refinancing of a revolving corporate loan facility for Endeavour Mining Corporation, which included an increase in the available facility from $200 million to $350 million. African Mining Deal of the Year 2013.

New Liberty Gold Project. Advised Nedbank Capital and Rand Merchant Bank on the US$88 million senior debt facility made available to Aureus Mining in relation to the New Liberty gold project, Liberia’s first gold producing mine. Development Funding Deal of the Year Award 2013.

Ports/Maritime

We have extensive experience with port development, acquisition and privatization transactions and a wide range of maritime infrastructure matters.

Kingston Container Terminal. Represented the Port Authority of Jamaica on the expansion of the Kingston Container Terminal in Kingston, Jamaica. Named North America Port Deal of the Year 2016, IJ Global and Best Port Financing, LatinFinance 2017.
San Martín de Pisco General Port. Represented Corporacion Financiera de Desarrollo (Cofide) as a lender on the financing for the for the development and modernization of the San Martín de Pisco General Port in Peru.

Panama Canal. Representing the Panama Canal Authority in the construction and associated works contracts related to the Panama Canal Expansion Program—a $5.25 billion project. Project Finance Deal of Year 2009.

Embraport. Acted for Empresa Brasileira de Terminais Portuários SA, a port operator, on all aspects relating to the financing of the port of Santos, Brazil expansion.

Equatorial Guinea Port. Advised a sponsor with a concession to construct and operate the first private port and related facilities in Equatorial Guinea.

Hong Kong Harbour. Advised Western Harbour Tunnel Company on tender documents and HK$5.2 billion financing and HK$3.5 billion refinancing for a 30-year franchise for the BOT Western Harbour Crossing Project.

Port of Americas. Representing the Port of the Americas Authority with negotiations for the long-term operating concession for the $750 million container terminal project in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Port of Portland. Counsel to the Port of Portland in connection with the potential long-term concession and lease of the Port’s Terminal 6 marine container terminal.

Sokhna Port. Advised an export credit agency in connection with a financing for the Sokhna Port in Egypt, the first private port in that country.

Valparaiso Seaport. Represented DEG (German Investment and Development Company, a subsidiary of the KfW banking group) and other lenders in connection with the project financing of the privatization of the Chilean seaport of Valparaiso.